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“It’s a blasting, screamer of a song in the vein of early Discharge or Exploited” – Consequence of Sound

Fat Wreck Chords is thrilled to welcome SICK OF IT ALL back to the FAT family! On November 2nd, we’ll join forces with Century Media to release their latest opus, Wake The Sleeping Dragon! We could not be more excited to be handling the CD and LP in the US, as well as the vinyl in Canada. SOIA once again teamed up with producer Jerry Farley (Lamb of God/Every Time I Die) and came out with an absolute banger. If you missed the premiere of the lead single, “Inner Vision,” Consequence of Sound has you covered. Then, once you’ve had a chance to catch your breath, pre-order your copy! Check out what SOIA had to say about returning to FAT, below:

Having a long history with both Century Media and Fat Wreck Chords, and knowing how much they care about us and the music we make, we are psyched about this joint effort! Both labels have been friends and champions of SOIA, on their roster or not.

Photo credit: Joerg Baumgarten

New York City hardcore legends SICK OF IT ALL aren’t slowing down with age, the long-standing quartet are still pissed off, and the genre stalwarts still see many years ahead. SICK OF IT ALL remain a beacon of continuity, integrity, and resolve. That’s good news for SICK OF IT ALL fans and the hardcore scene. Since forming in 1986, SICK OF IT ALL have traveled the world many times over, played in front of hundreds of thousands, and released 11 acclaimed full-length albums, the latest of which is the riotous if anthemic Wake the Sleeping Dragon!. That SICK OF IT ALL continue to live by the standards in their original charter isn’t a matter of course, it’s part of their respective DNA. Hardcore is SICK OF IT ALL. “We’re a band that thrives from frustration,” says drummer Armand Majidi. “Aging seems to work well with our message, as opposed to a good-time band who sings about partying all night. There are so many horrible aspects of the world that become more obvious to us year after year, which we didn’t see or understand before, which fuel our frustration every day. We’ve lived long enough now to see through the matrix, and thank goodness we have this band, so we can vent about it.”

And SICK OF IT ALL will voice, express, and declare their anger. As with pivotal albums Blood, Sweat and No Tears (1989), Scratch the Surface (1994), and The Last Act of Defiance (2014), the New Yorkers aren’t afraid to cut the crap on Wake the Sleeping Dragon!. Written and arranged with friend and producer The Jerry Farley (Lamb Of God, Every Time I Die)—a first—opener “Inner Vision,” “Robert Moses Was A Racist,” “Hardcore Horseshoe,” and “The Snake (Break Free)” retain SICK OF IT ALL’s signature sound but add melody, heaviness, and speed to the equation. Guest vocals by Tim McIlrath and Chuck Ragan add a new dynamic as well. Across Wake the Sleeping Dragon!’s 17 songs, SICK OF IT ALL have an album that observes tradition but has its eye on the future. “We didn’t shy away from stronger melodies on this album,” Majidi says. “So, there are some strikingly musical moments. Basically, we chose not to limit ourselves. The songs stand apart from each other by representing many different musical styles that have influenced us.”

On Wake the Sleeping Dragon!, SICK OF IT ALL opted to change up the lyrical approach. While daily frustrations, political idiocy, war, power imbalances, and general inequality have long fueled SICK OF IT ALL’s no-bullshit lyrics—the album title Wake the Sleeping Dragon! refers to a protest mechanism—today they’re focusing on the bigger picture while also injecting a bit of levity into the songs. “On this record, we had a more open, communal, tongue-in-cheek approach to lyric writing,” says Majidi. “So many different topics were covered, some way more lighthearted than others. We’ve done ‘serious’ so often, that what might stand out most to people is how much fun we had with the lyrics. It’s always time for revolution, so that message is loud and clear on multiple songs, but we also sing about musical heroes like the Bad Brains (‘That Crazy White Boy Shit’), inner demons (‘The Snake (Break Free.)’), our distaste of animal abuse (‘Bull’s Anthem’), annoying narcissism on social media, friends we’ve lost, life on the road, impending wars for resources, as well as mosh pit patterns that can be linked to male pattern baldness. We’ve allowed ourselves greater lyrical freedom on this record for sure!”

For the cover, SICK OF IT ALL wanted it to tie directly into the lyrics. Designed by Ernie Parada from Hellgate Industries but inspired by Lou Koller and Parada’s ‘50s era monster movie poster idea, the cover to Wake the Sleeping Dragon! is striking in its use of yellows, oranges, reds, and black. That it also brings in SICK OF IT ALL’s Alleyway Dragon mascot captures not just the mind but part of the band’s history as well. “Lou and Ernie came up with the idea of doing monster-movie styled art as the cover,” Majidi says. “The dragon climbing the Empire State was a concept I always wanted to see brought to life, so the two ideas were destined to come together this way. I love the fact that although it’s the same artist, there’s no obvious aspect linking Ernie’s style from his first cover (2010’s Based On A True Story) to this one.”

Wake the Sleeping Dragon! was put to proverbial tape by The Jerry Farley at Nova Studios in Staten Island, New York over two weeks and a half, while Danish producer Tue Madsen (Meshuggah, The Haunted) mixed and mastered SICK OF IT ALL’s latest rager at Antfarm Studios in Aabyhøj, Denmark. What helped the process run smoothly was Farley’s early involvement, the two five-day pre-production sessions, and the ability to record as SICK OF IT ALL progressed with the songwriting. “The Jerry Farley also became a very important part of the creation of this album,” Majidi says. “This is the first time we’ve ever had a producer involved from start to finish, including the songwriting process. His objective viewpoints helped settle a lot of little issues that could have easily become stumbling blocks, and the songs themselves ended up benefitting from them. SICK OF IT ALL and Tue Madsen have maintained a long-lasting relationship based on understanding, friendship, and most importantly, good results—three factors any band would be very happy with.”

As for SICK OF IT ALL’s next steps, the picture is clear. Majidi and team are looking for a warm reception to Wake the Sleeping Dragon! and more rounds of tours around the globe. The sleeping dragon is awakening! And SICK OF IT ALL want you to join the rebellion!

ALKALINE TRIO SHARE TITLE TRACK FROM NEW ALBUM ‘IS THIS THING CURSED?’

BAND’S FIRST STUDIO RECORD IN 5 YEARS DUE OUT AUGUST 31

TOUR BEGINS TONIGHT IN ST. LOUIS

Legendary Chicago punk band Alkaline Trio have released the title track from their forthcoming album Is This Thing Cursed? The ninth studio album from Alkaline Trio, Is This Thing Cursed? is their first new music in five years.

Watch the lyric video for “Is This Thing Cursed?” by Alkaline Trio:

With its soaring vocals and furious intensity, “Is This Thing Cursed?” is the second single to be released from Is This Thing Cursed? Last month Alkaline Trio shared a song called “Blackbird,” which SPIN hailed as a “glossy, pristine pop-punk record that’s anthemic and a bit catchy in its breezy melodies.”

Produced and mixed by Cameron Webb (Pennywise, Motörhead), Is This Thing Cursed? is the first Alkaline Trio album written almost entirely in the studio. According to the band, the album-making process was similar to that of Maybe I’ll Catch Fire—Alkaline Trio’s darkly charged sophomore full-length, a 2000 release featuring the fan favorite “Radio.”

Due out on CD/digital on August 31, Is This Thing Cursed? will be released on vinyl on October 19. Pre-orders are available now at: http://www.alkalinetrio.com

TRACKLIST FOR IS THIS THING CURSED?:

1. Is This Thing Cursed?

2. Blackbird

3. Demon and Division

4. Little Help?

5. I Can’t Believe

6. Sweet Vampires

7. Pale Blue Ribbon

8. Goodbye Fire Island

9. Stay

10. Heart Attacks

11. Worn So Thin

12. Throw Me To The Lions

13. Krystalline

On Friday, Alkaline Trio kicked off their recently announced headlining U.S. tour. The 29-date run wraps up on October 18 in Santa Cruz, California, with Together PANGEA supporting the band for all dates.

SWINGIN’ UTTERS are readying themselves for a busy year. Coming off the heels of celebrating thirty years as a band, and releasing a greatest-hits collection last year, they also managed to write and record a brand new full-length! Today, we’re thrilled to present the first song from the SWINGIN’ UTTERS dynamic new album, Peace and Love. The lead single is called “Human Potential,” and you can take a listen over at Brooklyn Vegan. Peace and Love will hit the streets on August 31st, and you can pre-order it now! Then, don’t miss them on tour. For all the dates and info, head here!

While its origin story has gone through more reboots than Batman, Superman and Spider-Man combined, punk rock has been a consistent presence on the musical landscape for more than 40 years. You might be surprised to know, however, that the Swingin’ Utters have been around for nearly as long —the band celebrated their 30th anniversary with a greatest-hits collection last year. Hell, this Bay Area street-punk band is so well-respected among their peers, there’s even a whole tribute compilation dedicated to their extensive catalog, including covers by the likes of Dropkick Murphys, Fucked Up and Teenage Bottlerocket.

Since that comp came out in 2010, the Utters have issued three more full-lengths, each more fiery than the last, and now sit on the verge of releasing their ninth proper LP. Recorded at Nu-Tune Studios in Pittsburg, California, this past March by Chris Dugan (Green Day, Iggy Pop), the album is titled Peace And Love, but don’t let that fool you: This isn’t some Haight and Ashbury hippie shit. In fact, according to guitarist/vocalist Darius Koski, Peace And Love’s content is as politically outspoken as the Utters have ever been.

“This is, by far, our absolutely most political record we’ve ever done,” Koski says. “We don’t generally write very pointedly political songs. We tend to be a little more vague and abstract. But this one is pretty pointedly disgusted and pissed off and really directly attacking these fuckin’ people in office.”
“I agree it is our most political record,” remarks singer Johnny Bonnel. “When sexism, racism, and nationalism is the agenda, it’s time to speak up.”

Peace And Love certainly pulls no lyrical punches — we’ll give you three guesses as to who “Yes I Hope He Dies” is about, and the first two don’t count — but the Utters also keep things interesting from a musical perspective, whether it’s the Ramones worship of “E.C.T.” (think of it as the long-gestating counterpoint to “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment”), the surprisingly melodic, Beatles-esque “Seeds Of Satisfaction” (which Koski lovingly refers to as his “surf-goth song”) or the gorgeous, haunting closing track H.L.S., written and performed by guitarist/vocalist Jack Dalrymple and inspired by the sudden death of his former One Man Army bandmate Heiko Schrepel, who passed away in 2015. “Jack actually emailed me that song several years ago, right after Heiko died,” Koski recalls. “Immediately, I knew this is the last song on the record. My only suggestion was that it started with him acoustic, then the band joins in. You don’t really hear Jack that naked ever. That song gives me chills when I hear it.”

The rebellious spirit of the Swingin’ Utters is as present as ever on Peace And Love, although the band looks and sounds a little bit different this time around, thanks to their new rhythm section of Tony Teixeira on bass and Luke Ray on drums. “Both Luke and Tony are stellar musicians who study their work,” says Bonnel. “Luke has amazing ability, but all his drumming is tasteful—it’s never overkill. Tony managed to come up with classic bass lines that made every song a little bit stronger.”Koski echoes Bonnel’s praise, commenting, “We love having these new dudes in the band. Tony is a really melodic, pretty player, whereas Luke is a fucking monster. Tony and Luke are best friends, and they’ve been playing together for years in other bands like Cobra Skulls and Sciatic Nerve, so that really helps.”

It’s been four years since the Utters’ last full-length, so all three songwriters in the band had a stockpile of material when they headed into the studio. That means what you’re getting on Peace And Love is the cream of the crop.
“We usually abandon songs if we think they’re shitty or filler,” Koski admits. “I still have tons of songs; Johnny does too. But we try not to make records super-long.”

Given that the last time the Utters came off a prolonged hiatus, the band ended up cranking out three full-lengths in four years; one has to wonder if Peace And Love is going to be the start of another extended burst of creativity for these punk lifers. Koski isn’t thinking that far ahead, though. In fact, he finds it hard to even enjoy the present. Even though his band has achieved three decades and nine albums together—two feats nearly impossible for most bands—Koski wrestles with his legacy a bit.

“We just keep on going,” he says. “I’m glad we’re still doing it. Johnny’s 50; I’m in my late 40s. I don’t think anything particularly new is gonna happen—we’re not gonna be on TRL any time soon. That’s fine. It’s a total accomplishment to stay together this long, but I’m a total pessimist. I should be totally grateful—and I am! But it’s hard to be a plumber when you wanna be a full-time musician. But wah wah wah—I still get paid to travel and play my songs all over the world. I’m not a millionaire, but who cares? I get to make records, and someone out there cares about them.”

Fight the Good Fight was produced by longtime collaborator, Rancid front man, and Grammy Award-winning producer Tim Armstrong with the band at Ship-Rec Recorders in Los Angeles. The album was mixed by Grammy-award winning mixer Tom Lord-Alge (Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Weezer).

The follow-up to 2015’s Say It Out Loud, Fight the Good Fight finds The Interrupters delivering their two-tone-inspired, powerfully melodic, punk-fueled sound with more vitality than ever before. With Armstrong and Alge at the helm, Aimee and the Bivona brothers channeled the raw energy of their lives shows by recording almost entirely to tape. “There’s a certain feeling you get from that process that you can’t really get digitally,” says guitarist Kevin. “There’s no overthinking anything—everyone’s got to be fully present and committed. It was definitely high-pressure, but also really fun.”

On July 14, the band will join the final run of the Vans Warped Tour this summer in support of Fight the Good Fight.

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT TRACKLIST:

Title Holder

So Wrong

She’s Kerosene

Leap Of Faith

Got Each Other (feat. Rancid)

Broken World

Gave You Everything

Not Personal

Outrage

Rumors And Gossip

Be Gone

Room With A View

Formed in 2011, The Interrupters came together when the Bivona brothers (guitarist Kevin Bivona, bassist Justin Bivona, drummer Jesse Bivona) found themselves on bills with Aimee during a 2009 tour. With their self-titled debut arriving in 2014, the band soon shared stages with bands like Rancid, Blink-182, and Bad Religion. The Interrupters embarked on a world tour in support of the release, headlining their own shows as well as supporting Green Day in Europe, Australia and South America, solidifying the band’s status as a dynamic force on the stage.

Today marks the release of Bay Dream, the sophomore album from Culture Abuse. Bay Dream is the band’s first full-length release for Epitaph Records. Listen to Bay Dream at Spotify now.

Bay Dream includes the recently released single “Dip.” In creating the track’s high-concept yet lo-fi video (which premiered on Tuesday), director Ryan Baxley built a human-sized photocopy machine, and essentially turned the clip into an animated zine. Watch the video for “Dip” by Culture Abuse here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVTiKdTTOjE

Having just completed a tour with Turnstile and Touché Amoré, Culture Abuse are on tour now with The Bronx in Europe. Culture Abuse will return to the US in July for three record release shows in New York, Los Angeles, and Oakland, with special guest appearances. In addition, Culture Abuse will join Nothing for a co-headlining tour in the US in September.

THE FILAMENTS have released a new track called “Rip-Off World” from their new LP “Look To The Skies,” out June 15th. You can listen to the new song HERE.

The band previously released the title track, “Look To The Skies,” which can be listened to HERE.

Since The Filaments reformed in 2009, they’ve taken their long-established track record of amazing songwriting and energetic stage performances to new heights, and have been steadily attracting swaths of new fans across England, Europe and the world. With multiple full-lengths and countless tours under their belts, these veterans are still full of drive, and roaring to deliver this amazing new album to the world.

This music, like the band, is really one-of-a-kind. Almost like UK ’82 style punk battered by a barrage of dub, 2-tone ska, psychobilly and even a bit of traditional Oi!/streetpunk. It creates an overall sound that is like nothing else; it has something for everyone, and a general appeal that gets people from all segments of the punk community dancing and singing along.

The Filaments are now absolute staples in the punk world, especially at the essential European festivals like Rebellion and Punk ‘n’ Disorderly; but they have also graced the stage at larger outdoor getups like Glastonbury (UK), and others. They are as punk as it gets, but because their music is so unique and SO FUN, and their positive message is so clear, they are by no means ‘too punk’ to scare off the masses. In fact, their very clear message rings even louder, and they stand out even more amidst a backdrop of so much banality.

Today, Alkaline Trio announce US tour dates in August and October. The August dates begin August 3 in Dallas, TX at The Bomb Factory and go throughout August 26 in Orlando, FL at House of Blues. The second leg picks up on October 4 in Santa Ana, CA at The Observatory and will conclude on October 18 in Santa Cruz, CA at The Catalyst.

Matt Skiba explains, “Seems like ages since we’ve properly toured and we couldn’t be more excited to get back out and play for the best fans a band could ask for. If people are half as psyched as we are then it’s gonna be a party!”

SQUIDHAT RECORDS WELCOMES BAY AREA SKA LEGENDS MONKEY TO THEIR ROSTER WITH THE RELEASE OF “INTERMITTENT” ON CD & LIMITED EDITION ORANGE VINYL

Las Vegas, NV, April 14, 2018 –SquidHat Records is proud to announce the release of Intermittent waves, the new album from Monkey. Available digitally, on CD or limited edition orange vinyl nationally and internationally through MVD Entertainment. The street date is 5/5/18.

The hardest working band on the West Coast is back with their sizzling sixth album! This 5 piece high-energy ska group from the SF Bay Area is famous for intense live shows and rock-steady rhythms that not only get the crowds dancing but have won them several awards, including the prestigious California Music Award. Monkey sets the pace for in-your-face ska, performing over 200 shows per year, while constantly recording and touring.

Archie and The Bunkers is the Cleveland-based duo of Emmett and Cullen O’Connor, brothers who have been playing music together for as long as they can remember. With Cullen on organ and Emmett on drums, they play “hi-fi organ punk” and have made a big splash since forming in 2013, sharing stages with everyone from Iggy Pop and The Sonics to Echo and the Bunnymen, Black Lips, and Thee Oh Sees and releasing music on Norton, In The Red, and Jack White’s Third Man Records.

Today, they share a cover by one of their biggest influences, LA synth-punk band The Screamers. Dangerous Minds caught up with the O’Connors to chat about their journey — which started when they were just thirteen and fifteen years old — and their new album, Songs From The Lodge, due out next week on Dirty Water Records. You can read the piece (which also includes anecdotes from former Cramps member Nick Knox & Norton Records founder Miriam Linna) here, and stream the duo’s take on “122 Hours of Fear” via SoundCloud.

Archie and The Bunkers will celebrate the release of their new album with a hometown show at Mahall’s on April 28th — more info here.

We’re fired up to finally share with you the details of the new Strung Out EP, Black Out the Sky, to be released on May 11th. While Strung Out has made their name on intense, frenetic slabs of metal-influenced tech-punk, there is more to the band than meets the eye. It might come as a shock to learn that the band’s new eight-song release is an acoustic affair, but as vocalist Jason Cruz explains, it’s not nearly as surprising for the band members.

“Every song starts on an acoustic guitar for the most part,” Cruz begins. “If it’s a good song, it can be played acoustic. For about the past five years, I’ve been pushing the band to release a record in this format.”
The result is six brand new songs, as well as two re-worked older songs, “Matchbook” and “UnKoil.” Today, you can hear the first new track from the EP, “Town of Corazon,” over at Brooklyn Vegan. It’s a surprisingly subdued song from a band who is usually anything but that. As if that weren’t enough, Strung Out is touring the US and Canada with Pennywise, which kicks off this week!

Cruz and his bandmates—Kiley, Ramos and bassist Chris Aiken—began working on Black Out The Sky in January 2017 with producer Kyle Black, who they had previously teamed up with on 2015’s blistering Transmission.Alpha.Delta, and who played a role in the band deciding to re-work two older songs, “Matchbook” and “UnKoil,” for the release.

“Kyle is a fan of the band,” the singer says. “I am the kind of person who wants to stray and go out into the unknown when I’m in the studio, but Kyle represents our fans. He didn’t let me stray too far with the melody or the music—just far enough to keep it fresh.”

With no set deadline on the release, the recording process went on for nearly the entirety of 2017, allowing for song arrangements to bloom in ways Strung Out songs never had before. “The songs came out really super-dark, not jingly-jangly acoustic stuff,” Cruz says. “We had to get other musicians involved. Some of it is sparse and intimate, and some of it has a lot going on.”

During the recording process, the band decided they needed to part ways with Jordan Burns, the band’s drummer since 1993. Cruz stresses that this decision was not an easy one to make, but it had to happen for the continued existence of Strung Out. “I think the band needed it,” Cruz admits. “It needed to happen for the band to survive and grow. We got to a point where we were going to break up if it didn’t.”

While in the studio, Strung Out realized some of the acoustic songs still needed drums. So the band enlisted their friend Sean Winchester, an accomplished drummer who has played with Everclear, Buckcherry and more, to fill out their sound. For their upcoming live shows, Strung Out will enlist RJ Shankle of California skate-punk band (and former tourmates) Runaway Kids to man the throne. Cruz is ecstatic about not only the fresh blood in his band, but what it means moving forward.

“Really, the whole theme of this record is rebirth,” he explains. “It’s the rebirth of our brotherhood and being a band. It’s astounding when you can keep a relationship together for three decades. There’s something so special about the music we write. We’re brothers beyond any kind of blood. It vindicates that we’re doing something right.

“I always ask myself, ‘What nerve do I have to get in front of a microphone?’” Cruz continues. “The fact that I kept this relationship together for 30 years says we worked through some shit. In our darkest times, we always came out with something beautiful because of it. In my mind, that gives me the right to get in front of that microphone.”

On Black Out The Sky, Cruz continues to dig deep internally, exploring parts of himself he’s yet to fully understand, taking the listener along for the ride, no matter how bumpy it may get.

“When we were kids, we all said, ‘Fuck God, fuck religion, fuck the government, let’s destroy it all,’” the frontman states. “Great. We did that. Punk rock did that. What are you gonna replace it with? Black Out The Sky is all about looking inward and finding what’s always been there, that intuition, that something to all of us. I don’t know what it is, but it’s the journey to find it and acknowledge it.”

Musically, the EP careens from songs that could be ported to full-band electric arrangements easily (“Requiem,” the title track) to mid-tempo grunge indebted to Alice In Chains (“The Architect”) to a full-on rollicking country song (“Duke Of Sorrow”). Cruz’s favorite number is “Town Of Corazon,” a surprisingly fragile song from a band who is usually anything but that. “’Town Of Corazon’ has the most balls we’ve ever displayed because it’s sweet and tender,” he admits. “It brings reference to spring and a new awakening. I’m so tired of screaming, the same riff, the same breakdown… I can’t stomach it anymore. Slipping in a sweet melody is the punkest thing we could do.”

Nearly three decades in, Strung Out is not driven by trends but instead by each other. As Cruz relays, “There is no ‘me’ in this band. It’s us. Whatever we think of, we’re gonna do it. Sometimes, people want to maintain a youthful aura about their band. That’s gone. We’re old dudes. But we’ve learned a thing or two. There’s nothing wrong with being an old dude. Lemme show you a road that I found; come with me.”